WHAT TO DO IF....
- What to do as a soccer coach when parents harass you.
Well, this can be annoying, and it does
happen. First, do not lose your cool, as
this can give them demonstrated evidence to throw in your face. The
reasons for
your team parents harassing you normally vary all over the board: we are not
winning;
our kids are not getting trained; the coach favors his own kid; the coach treats
the kids badly...... If some items are factual, you need to discuss the
subject
openly with the parents and seek a solution. If you are a brand new coach,
with
minimum soccer skills/experience, it is the normal thing that they are expecting
too much, too soon from you. Typically as a coach continues through the
age groups
coaching, they have to take more classes, to appropriately teach the older
players.
A coach that has only taken the introductory courses, at the basic level, will
have
a hard time in practices with older players. These players have typically
already
passed the 'basic' learning stages and need more advanced training. If it
is parents
from another team that are harassing you, that is a more simple matter to
handle.
You report the situation to the league and have them deal with the team.
Don't get
discouraged from parent complaints, as this can occur, even when you are doing
everything right. Parents sometimes get stuck in the 'winning' mentality
mode,
which sometimes will not see other positive things that are happening. For
losses,
it can help to use them as learning tools at the next training sessions as what
the
team needs to improve on, making it a positive experience. Winning or
losing, there
is always something to be learned from each game.
- During a game you perceive that a lot of fouls are not being called.
If a coach has reason to believe that
their players are in danger, from physical play
on the field, a coach can pull their players and not continue play. This
is rather a
drastic thing to do and you would absolutely need to ensure that you can justify
this
action. You would have to explain your action to your parents, and your
league
officials. This would have to be more than you believe that the game was
not being
called 'fair', or was 'one-sided'. You would have to give specific
examples to
demonstrate that your players had been placed in danger through improper
physical
play. You in effect are indicating that the referees did not control the
game, which
will always bring questions. If this were to occur, you should definitely
explain to
your parents why you were pulling the team. Before you actually pulled the
team, you
could ask your assistant coach to pull the parents aside to get their viewpoints
(i.e., to see if they are seeing what you think you are seeing and feel the same
as
you do). Before you get to this position, at half time send your team
captains out
to speak with the center referee, to explain your concerns. Here you
should be as
specific as possible. If there is a referee mentor/monitor on site, or a
field
coordinator, also speak to them prior to making a decision to pull a team.
They are
there to assist the referees & the coaches. To pull a team is essentially
for the
safety of the players and should only occur if all other means have been
exhausted.
- A large number of your team do not show up for a game.
A game can start and count as a regular game, with seven (7) players on the field, no less. The opposing team may be asked, but are not required to 'play down'. One of the reasons for this is to not penalize the opposing players, who showed up to play. Often players will make a 'choice' to not appear to play and opposing team players should not be penalized for the 'choice' of opposing team personnel. If you do not have enough players to make the minimum seven (7) on a field, and the opposing team has a full roster of players, you have another option. You can speak to the opposing coach about playing a game, with some of his players joining your minimum number. You could ask the referees to referee the game, but they would not be required to, as it would not be a league scheduled game. In this type of case, you have two teams that really want to play a game. This can be a bummer for a player that has taken the time out to be at the field, and is dressed for the game, with the game being canceled. Even if the opposing team does not show up, and if you have a full roster, you could split them in half and let them play each other, as a scrimmage game, just so they could play. You would shorten the game time for this approach.
- Neither you nor your assistant coach(es) can make it to the game.
The game cannot be played without at least one person from each team with a current, valid CYSA coaches pass. When you find out that no registered adults can make it to the game, you will need to notify your Coach Coordinator, IMMEDIATELY. Your team cannot play without a registered coach/assistant coach. The team cannot be turned over to a parent, for a game. This is why it is extremely important that a team have a coach and a registered assistant. You can also have more that one registered assistant, as a just in case,
- Neither you nor your assistant coach(es) can make practice.
In this situation, the medical releases for players will typically be with the coach or assistant. To have a practice session, these forms must be there, or ALL of the parents for ALL of the players MUST be there. A parent cannot ask another parent to watch their child. If a medical situation were to arise, only the parent can authorize treatment for their child. Also, for insurance purposes, the CYSA rules would have been violated, so no coverage would be available. This same situation applies to games. No game may begin, without medical releases on hand, or the parents present, for each player. 'Going home to get them' does not count, as a player could get injured while they are gone. This could also place a coach in a civil liability situation, as they have violated CYSA rules, placing a players health in potential jeopardy. The coach is directly responsible for following all CYSA rules, in regards to the operation of their team.
- You lose your coaches’ binder and all your paperwork, including team roster, medical release forms, and player passes.
Contact the league registrar and let her know that you have lost your paperwork. It will have to be replaced, and that may take some time. Inform your Coach Coordinator of your problem.
- A player or a coach on your team receives a red card (also known as ejection or send-off).
The referee will keep the pass of the player/coach who was ejected and will not give it back after the game. A coach/parent must leave the field of play. A player may usually stay along the sidelines with the team unless the referee instructs him or her to leave, but the player should change his or her jersey or put on a jacket. If a coach from your team feels it is necessary to speak to the referee after the game, do so calmly and respectfully. Do no allow parents to approach the referee. Remember, the referee will write a report about the incident and you do not want to cause any additional problems.
The referee will send the report and the pass to the league. The league will form a 'PAD' committee to discuss the situation and decide on disciplinary action. This action will typically take place prior to the next weekend of play. Depending on your league, the committee may simply decide the necessary disciplinary penalty, or request that they party appear before the committee. The committee will use the referee report as a basis for making their decision.
The committee will follow CYSA guidelines. You should be aware that CYSA rules dictate the following items, which some coaches are not aware of. Please note item 4:08:07. This states that a red carded team official must leave the field and area. A league cannot over rule this. Please take note that a referee is not required to show a red card to a coach or a spectator that is being ejected. The party is simply told to leave the field.
4:08:03 Any player, substitute or coach who refuse the referee’s request for their name, or gives a false name, while the referee is gathering data to report an infringement of the “Laws of the Game” involving them, shall have one game added to the suspension that would normally be levied by the Disciplinary Committee.
4:08:04 Disciplinary actions listed above are to be regarded as minimum game suspensions, depending on the findings of the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee has discretionary powers to increase penalties befitting the infractions.
4:08:06 Coaches and assistant coaches sent off the field of play for infringement of the “Laws of the Game” shall have two (2) games added to the suspension that would normally be levied against a player for a similar infringement.
4:08:07 Any player ejected (sent off) from a game shall remain on the sidelines with his or her team and not leave the area without the permission of a team official. Any team official ejected (sent off) from a game shall leave the vicinity of the field of play and the area in which the game is being played. In the event that a team official is ejected (sent off) and there is no other team official properly registered to that team present, the game shall be terminated.
A key item to remember is that under CYSA rules, a coach gets
two extra games (see 4:08:06 above), over what a player would
receive as a game penalty. With this, a
coach is look at a minimum of three games for being ejected.
A league disciplinary
committee can increase this amount, but they may not decrease the CYSA minimum.
- A parent on the sideline persists in yelling insulting or vulgar comments that disturb the players and the referee.
Coaches are responsible for the behavior of parents. If parents get out of hand, it is the coach who can ultimately be ejected from the game and subject to disciplinary action by the league and the district. Be proactive; meet with your parents ahead of time and impress upon them the importance of being positive and supportive fans. Cheering is fun and encourages the team; negative comments, insults, and threats cause ejections and possible legal action.
If the offensive parent is with your team, ask him or her to
calm down and to refrain from further comments as you are in danger of being
ejected. Some coaches will pull the child of the offensive parent out of the
game until the parent cools down. If the parent continues, and you cannot
control them, notify the Assistant Referee that the parent is causing a problem
and you cannot control them.
If the offensive parent is with the opponent’s team. Some coaches have their team captain tell the referee during a
stoppage in play, “That person on the sidelines is saying awful things to us.
Can you make him stop?” You can also notify the assistant referee on your side
that your players are being verbally abused by the other team’s parents. He or
she may evaluate the situation and may attempt to get the referee’s attention
during a stoppage in play. At the end of the game, you may write a
complaint and submit it to your Coach Coordinator.
- A player on the opponent’s team repeatedly directs profanity or threats towards your players.
Speak to the assistant referee about it, pointing the player out to them. You may also send your team captain out, at half time, to speak to the center referee about it. At the end of the game, you may write a complaint and submit it to your league. To do so, you would need to be specify, including the players number, and what actions you, or the referees took to resolve the matter.
- A player on your team is acting unruly and you are concerned for the safety of other players. Do you still have to play them 50% of the game.
Generally, no, absolutely not. However you DO have to report this
issue immediately to the party responsible
for your age group, and give a written statement as to what happened. This is to
allow them time to investigate the issue, speaking with the player/and
family, before the games of the next weekend. You want the behavior to not
be repeated in the future, and at the same time keep harmony within the team.
Some leagues
have a guaranteed 50% play policy. If you go against this policy, you must
be prepared
to justify this, and it generally cannot be (recreational play) due to wanting
your
best players on the field to win a game. This typically only applies in
competitive
games, for competitive (Div. 1, or Div. 3) players.
- The referee makes what your team thinks is a bad call.
Keep your cool and remember your responsibilities as a coach and role model for your players. Calm the players and the parents. Nothing that anyone can say or do at that point will change the call. Sometimes, parents become agitated at the smallest infractions, simply because they are not very familiar with the laws of the game and what is and is not allowed in soccer. Educate your parents whenever possible.
Sometimes you will have to explain these calls to them. If you
want to speak to the referee about it, wait until half time and send your
captains out to speak to the referee. If it happens during the second
half, you may seek to get an explanation on a call from the referee.
However, you must understand that they do not have to explain their
calls. Some coaches mistakenly believe that a referee has to explain their
call, if asked. Speak calmly and respectfully. Do not become confrontational,
either by physical stance, or sarcastically. You should be aware that a
referee is in control of the game/field, both before and after a game. If
dissent is presented after a game, a referee can eject/card anyone on the basis
of this.
If you think that the referee has committed serious errors that the league
should know about, write down all of the details and give your own report to
your league.
- A player forgets to bring shin guards to the game.
CYSA rules state that players are required to wear shin guards at every game and at every practice. The referee will not allow a player to participate who does not have shin guards. You should not allow a player to even stand in the team line, if they do not have shin guards. The coach is just as responsible as the referee in insuring that the players equipment is proper.
- You forget your player passes.
A game in which player passes are required (i.e. issued by the league, to the team, for use during games as player identification) cannot be played as a sanctioned game without these passes. The team with their player passes would be awarded a 1-0 win, as the team without passes was not ready to play. The game may be then played as a 'friendly' match, with score not being kept by referees, or counted for anything. The referees do not have to referee a friendly match.
